Editing Tricks for Amateur Vacation Video #46

France 2001:  Balloon over Dijon (Edited 2002)

My video camera was pick-pocketed during our first visit to France in 2001.  So moving pictures and sounds of Paris are missing for that trip.  However we extended the visit with a barge trip on the Burgundy Canal.  Another passenger allowed me to put my tape in his camera, so that piece of our trip were captured.

In 2002 I began taking multimedia classes at the local community college.  One semester focused on Adobe Premiere.  This video is one of my class projects; it was required to use music, transitions, and graphic overlays.  I also placed a "bug" in the lower right hand corner ... this now-ubiquitous annoyance was pretty advanced at the time.

I like the way the graphic balloon follows a twisted flight path in the beginning of the video.  The composited images and music provide a relaxed atmosphere and add some interest to this slow float over the French countryside.

Editing Tricks for Amateur Vacation Video #45

Africa 2002:  Zimbabwe Announcement & The End

Ding-Dong!  That started the fist vignette from this trip; now it also ends the show.  This was a simple "thank you" and "The End" for the DVD which was composed of ten other short movies.

It works well on DVD, but makes no sense out of context on YouTube. 

Suggestion:

A YouTube video should be short yet have some sort of conprehensible storyline.  This clip does not belong on-line, but was placed there as an educational resource for anyone who is following this blog series about creating enjoyable travel videos.

Editing Tricks for Amateur Vacation Video #44

Africa 2002: Monde School in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe was and is a crumbling social disaster.  Monde School was trying to help the residents achieve some degree of education, which is tough when life is subsistence.

Nice scenes of the children singing, with an "L-cut" that allows their voices to underlie other video clips.  I like the close-up of hanging ornaments and workbooks.

Lessons Learned:

Capture the natural sound even if you won't use all of the accompanying video.
Close-ups make good cutaways.

Suggestion:

There is a very prominent smudge on the camcorder lens.  Probably a good idea to carry some lens tissue and make a habit of using it!

Let's rescue your horrible vacation video.  Turn it into something your friends will enjoy watching!

Africa Botswana mopane worm eating Zimbabwe Victoria Falls hotel

Editing Tricks for Amateur Vacation Video #43

Africa 2002:  Zimbabwe Village

Visitors are surprised to find Zimbabwe's rural people living in dirt-floor huts whose walls are plastered with cow dung.  They're much more interested in shopping for handmade crafts.  This video is somewhat instructive, somewhat insulting.  Looking back at it, I don't especially care for my attempts at humor.

Once again, considering that the original audience viewed this on DVD as part of a remembrance of their travels,  it was appropriate at the time.  Now I would likely consider a re-edit that would focus on people and culture.

Lessons Learned:

Things change, thoughts change, awareness changes.  Something considered "pretty good" ten years ago might become a candidate for re-edit.